Christmas 2003
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The Prayer Book Society of Canada Newsletter Christmas 2003 Anglican Primates Release Statement Condemning the Actions of the Bishop INSIDE 1 of New Westminster and the Statement of the Episcopal Church of the USA Anglican Primates In response to the current crisis in the Anglican Church resulting from the actions of the Bishop of New 3 Westminster and the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the USA, the Primates of the Anglican Recent Communion met at Lambeth in October, 2003. Here is the full text of their statement Developments within the Anglican The Primates of the strengthened in our News to the world. Communion Regarding the Anglican Communion and the Communion with one another At this time we feel the Same-Sex Issue Moderators of the United through our worship and study profound pain and uncertainty Churches, meeting together at of the Bible. This has led us “ shared by others about our 4 Lambeth Palace on the 15th into a deeper commitment to Christian discipleship in the and 16th October, 2003, wish A Parish Feels the work together, and we affirm light of controversial decisions to express our gratitude to the Lash of a Hostile our pride in the Anglican by the Diocese of New Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Bishop inheritance of faith and order Westminster to authorise a Rowan Williams, for calling us and our firm desire to remain Public Rite of Blessing for 6 together in response to recent part of a Communion, where those in committed same sex Icon of St Michael events in the Diocese of New what we hold in common is relationships, and by the 74th Painted at Westminster, Canada, and the much greater than that which General Convention of the St Michael’s Youth Episcopal Church (USA), and divides us in proclaiming Good Conference welcoming us into his home so Episcopal Church (USA) to confirm the election of a priest that we might take counsel 7 together, and to seek to “These actions threaten in a committed same sex relationship to the office and Of the Great and discern, in an atmosphere of the unity of our own Glorious Accidents work of a Bishop. common prayer and worship, Communion as well as Happening about the will and guidance of the our relationships with These actions threaten the the Birth of JESUS Holy Spirit for the common other parts of Christ's unity of our own Communion life of the thirty-eight provinces as well as our relationships with 10 which constitute our Church, our mission other parts of Christ's Church, Voices From the Communion. and witness, and our our mission and witness, and Pew At a time of tension, we relations with other our relations with other faiths, have struggled at great cost faiths...” in a world already confused in with the issues before us, but areas of sexuality, morality and have also been renewed and theology, and polarised Christian opinion. As Primates of our Communion seeking to exercise the “enhanced responsibility” entrusted to us by successive Lambeth Conferences, we re-affirm our common understanding of the centrality and authority of Scripture in determining the The Annunciation, Fra Filippo Lippi (1406-1469). – Continued on Page 2 Christmas 2003 The Prayer Book Society of Canada Newsletter Primates’ Statement Therefore, as a body we deeply pointed to the grave difficulties that this – Continued from Page 1 regret the actions of the Diocese of New election has raised and will continue to basis of our faith. Whilst we Westminster and the Episcopal Church raise. In most of our provinces the acknowledge a legitimate diversity of (USA) which appear to a number of election of Canon Gene Robinson interpretation that arises in the Church, provinces to have short-circuited that would not have been possible since his this diversity does not mean that some process, and could be perceived to alter chosen lifestyle would give rise to a of us take the authority of Scripture unilaterally the teaching of the Anglican canonical impediment to his more lightly than others. Nevertheless, Communion on this issue. They do consecration as a bishop. each province needs to be aware of the not. Whilst we recognise the juridical possible effects of its interpretation of autonomy of each province in our If [the] consecration [of Gene Scripture on the life of other provinces Communion, the mutual Robinson] proceeds, we in the Communion. We commit interdependence of the provinces means recognise that we have reached ourselves afresh to mutual respect whilst that none has authority unilaterally to seeking from the Lord a correct substitute an alternative teaching as if it a crucial and critical point in discernment of how God's Word speaks were the teaching of the entire Anglican the life of the Anglican to us in our contemporary world. Communion. Communion and we have had To this extent, therefore, we must to conclude that the future of “Therefore, as a body we deeply make clear that recent actions in New the Communion itself will be regret the actions of the Diocese Westminster and in the Episcopal put in jeopardy...This will tear of New Westminster and the Church (USA) do not express the mind the fabric of our Communion Episcopal Church (USA)...we of our Communion as a whole, and at its deepest level, and may these decisions jeopardise our call on the provinces concerned lead to further to make adequate provision for sacramental fellowship with each other. We have a particular concern for those division....Similar episcopal oversight of dissenting who in all conscience feel bound to considerations apply to the minorities within their own area dissent from the teaching and practice situation pertaining in the of pastoral care in consultation of their province in such matters. Diocese of New Westminster.” with the Archbishop of Whilst we reaffirm the teaching of successive Lambeth Conferences that Canterbury on behalf of the If his consecration proceeds, we bishops must respect the autonomy and Primates.” recognise that we have reached a crucial territorial integrity of dioceses and and critical point in the life of the provinces other than their own, we call We also re-affirm the resolutions Anglican Communion and we have had on the provinces concerned to make made by the bishops of the Anglican to conclude that the future of the adequate provision for episcopal Communion gathered at the Lambeth Communion itself will be put in oversight of dissenting minorities within Conference in 1998 on issues of human jeopardy. In this case, the ministry of this their own area of pastoral care in sexuality as having moral force and one bishop will not be recognised by consultation with the Archbishop of commanding the respect of the most of the Anglican world, and many Canterbury on behalf of the Primates. Communion as its present position on provinces are likely to consider these issues. We commend the report of The Presiding Bishop of the themselves to be out of Communion that Conference in its entirety to all Episcopal Church (USA) has explained with the Episcopal Church (USA). This members of the Anglican Communion, to us the constitutional framework will tear the fabric of our Communion at valuing especially its emphasis on the within which the election and its deepest level, and may lead to further need “to listen to the experience of confirmation of a new bishop in the division on this and further issues as homosexual persons, and...to assure Episcopal Church (USA) takes place. As provinces have to decide in consequence them that they are loved by God and Primates, it is not for us to pass whether they can remain in communion that all baptised, believing and faithful judgement on the constitutional with provinces that choose not to break persons, regardless of sexual orientation, processes of another province. We communion with the Episcopal Church are full members of the Body of recognise the sensitive balance between (USA). Christ”; and its acknowledgement of provincial autonomy and the expression Similar considerations apply to the the need for ongoing study on of critical opinion by others on the situation pertaining in the Diocese of questions of human sexuality. internal actions of a province. New Westminster. Nevertheless, many Primates have – Continued on Page 8 2 Visit our web site: www.prayerbook.ca The Prayer Book Society of Canada Newsletter Christmas 2003 Recent Developments within the Anglican Communion Regarding the Same-Sex Issue October 16th, 2003 Yukon, for offering Alternative Episcopal majority of bishops in the [Anglican] Oversight to the dissenting parishes in Communion and will not recognize it. The Primates of the Anglican Church the diocese of New Westminster. We declare our grief at the actions of throughout the world meet at Lambeth, those who are engaging in this schismatic England, and issue a statement re- October 31, 2003 act. This action is a departure from affirming the 1998 Lambeth Conference Holy Scripture, from the clear historic on issues of human sexuality, and express The Canadian House of Bishops wraps teaching of the Church, from the moral “deep regret” at the actions of the up their meeting with a request to imperative of the Lambeth Conference Diocese of New Westminster for Bishop to Ingham to drop charges of Bishops, 1998, and from the fervent endorsing same-sex unions, and of the against seven dissenting clergy, and a plea of the Primates of the Episcopal Church in the USA for its request to Archbishop Crawley to drop Communion.” endorsement of the election of Gene charges against Bishop Terry Buckle. Robinson, a divorced man living openly A further